Launched in March 2026, EWORA’s Academic Leadership and Mentoring Programme for Women is currently underway with a selected cohort of women academic leaders from across Europe.
The EWORA Academic Leadership and Mentoring Programme for Women is a one-year pilot leadership programme designed to prepare women academic leaders for the highest leadership positions in higher education.
The programme brings together values-led and strategic academic leadership, international networking, tailored mentoring, peer learning and practical leadership training. It aims to inspire and support women leaders in their transition towards top academic leadership roles, including positions such as rector, president or vice-chancellor.
Conducted primarily online, the programme also includes an in-person workshop in Brussels within the framework of the EWORA Conference. The selected cohort is now participating in a structured leadership journey combining thematic sessions, mentoring and exchange with experienced women academic leaders.
EWORA is committed to advancing gender balance at the very top of academic leadership in Europe and globally. Although many women have reached senior positions such as deans and vice-rectors, the transition to the highest academic leadership roles remains challenging due to persistent structural and cultural barriers, limited peer mentoring opportunities and underrepresentation in high-level boards and international networks.
Supporting participants in developing the knowledge, confidence, skills and strategic insights needed for top academic leadership roles.
Exploring strategic and values-led academic leadership, governance, change management and institutional stakeholder engagement.
Creating a European peer community of women academic leaders who can continue to support one another beyond the programme.
Contributing to closing the gender gap in top university leadership, one of EWORA’s core missions.
Following the nomination and review process, selected participants are now taking part in a one-year academic leadership and mentoring journey. The cohort brings together women currently serving as vice-rectors, deans or equivalent senior academic leaders who demonstrate readiness and ambition to take the next step in their academic leadership careers.
The programme combines online thematic sessions, mentoring, peer exchange, practical leadership tools and an in-person Brussels workshop. At the end of the programme, individual mentors may also be introduced for an additional year, depending on participants’ interest.
The programme is structured around eight thematic sessions between March 2026 and January 2027. All thematic sessions are conducted online, with the exception of the in-person workshop session in Brussels on 9 June 2026.
Participants are also expected to take part in the EWORA Conference in Brussels on 10 June 2026. Each session is expected to last approximately two hours; however, depending on the content of the session, the duration may be slightly shorter or longer.
The only in-person component of the programme will take place in Brussels on 9 June 2026, within the framework of the EWORA Conference.
This workshop will offer participants the opportunity to engage directly with EWORA Board Members and Advisory Board Members, strengthen their international networks and deepen the peer-learning dimension of the programme.
18 March 2026 | Theme 1 – Online
8 April 2026 | Theme 2 – Online
13 May 2026 | Theme 3 – Online
9 June 2026 | Theme 4 – Brussels
16 September 2026 | Theme 5 – Online
21 October 2026 | Theme 6 – Online
18 November 2026 | Theme 7 – Online
26 January 2027 | Theme 8 – Online
18 March 2026, 2:00 pm CET
Kerstin Tham, Former Vice-Chancellor, Malmö University, Sweden
Eva Åkesson, Former Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University, Sweden
Supported by Caroline Parker, Former Assistant Vice-Principal (Values), Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
8 April 2026, 2:00 pm CET
Pamela Gillies, Former Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
Ulrike Beisiegel, Former President, University of Göttingen, Germany
Supported by Caroline Parker, Former Assistant Vice-Principal (Values), Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
13 May 2026, 2:00 pm CET
Isabel Gil, Rector, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), Portugal
Inga Žalėnienė, Rector, Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), Lithuania
Lucyna Woźniak, Vice-Rector for International Relations, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
Supported by Caroline Parker, Former Assistant Vice-Principal (Values), Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
9 June 2026 | Brussels, Belgium
All Board Members and Advisory Board Members
16 September 2026, 2:00 pm CET
Birgitt Riegraf, Former President, Paderborn University, Germany
Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz, Former Rector, Kadir Has University, Türkiye
Supported by Caroline Parker, Former Assistant Vice-Principal (Values), Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
21 October 2026, 2:00 pm CET
Kerstin Tham, Former Vice-Chancellor, Malmö University, Sweden
Pamela Gillies, Former Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
Supported by Caroline Parker, Former Assistant Vice-Principal (Values), Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
18 November 2026, 2:00 pm CET
Eva Åkesson, Former Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University, Sweden
Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz, Former Rector, Kadir Has University, Türkiye
Supported by Caroline Parker, Former Assistant Vice-Principal (Values), Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
26 January 2027, 2:00 pm CET
Eva Åkesson, Former Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University, Sweden
Kerstin Tham, Former Vice-Chancellor, Malmö University, Sweden
Supported by Caroline Parker, Former Assistant Vice-Principal (Values), Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
Universities interested in EWORA’s activities and future leadership initiatives may apply for EWORA membership.
Learn More About EWORA MembershipFor further information about the EWORA Academic Leadership and Mentoring Programme for Women, please contact the EWORA office.
info@ewora.org